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Learning and Teaching Handbook

3.4.2:Changes to Existing Modules

Approval of changes to existing modules

1. Departments are responsible for developing proposals to change existing module, and proposing these to the relevant Faculty Education Committee for approval. These proposals will normally be considered for approval by Chair's action, unless the proposal raises an issue of principle upon which guidelines do not exist or which is a matter of contention between Departments in which case the Chair may refer the proposal to the FEC itself.

2. All changes must be submitted electronically via the module outline webpages (www.dur.ac.uk/module.outlines). Current versions of approved modules can be downloaded from those webpages, and guidance on the use of the module outline system is located there. If you would like to arrange a training session please contact the relevant faculty administrator in the Academic Support Office.

3. Departments must either confirm in Section C that module changes will not require additional resources or that additional resources will be needed.  If the latter is indicated, the chair of the Faculty Education Committee is responsible for confirming that those resources have been agreed with the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor as part of the Planning Round.

4. Departments are not required to seek external examiner comments on all module change proposals, but should do so for amendments that which significantly alter the nature of a module.  Departments are requested to be particularly aware of the possible cumulative effect on the nature of a module which might take place with a number of sequential minor changes.

Explanatory Detail

Changes which always require approval by FEC

5. If a department wishes to make a change to any of the characteristics of a module outlined below, following approval of the module by or on behalf of the Departmental Education Committee, changes will need to be considered for approval by the Chair of the relevant Faculty Education Committee.  The changes that always require such approval are:

a. module type;

b. prerequisites, including changes in the designation of modules as prerequisites for progression (where departments are seeking to add a pre-requisite, they should provide the FEC secretary with information on which of the pre-requisite's learning outcomes are essential to the module being submitted for consideration);

c. co requisites

d. excluded combination of modules

f. Summative Assessment

e. Additional Resources

All changes must be submitted via the online module outline system (www.dur.ac.uk/module.outlines/ ).  This will include completion of Section C explaining the rationale for the proposed changes.  Where departments are proposing changes to the summative assessment of a module they should ensure that this rationale briefly addresses the impact of the changes on the overall pattern of summative assessment in the main programme(s) in which the module is offered.

6. If a department wishes to change the module size (i.e. number of credits), the module location (i.e. Durham City or Queen's) or module level, a new module code will be required and a new module outline should be submitted.

Changes which may require FEC approval

7. If a department wishes to make a change to any of the sections of a module outline listed below, and  believes, in its judgment, that such a change will significantly alter the nature of the module from that originally considered and approved by, or on behalf of, the relevant Faculty Education Committee, this should be subject to approval by the Chair of the relevant Faculty Education Committee (all such changes will need to be submitted electronically via the module outlines website:  www.dur.ac.uk/module.outlines/ ).  The sections to which this applies are:a. aims;

b. intended learning outcomes;

c. content;

d. Total SLAT hours (excluding independent study).

8. If the department believes, in its judgment, that the proposed change will not significantly alter the nature of the module from that originally considered and approved by, or on behalf of, the relevant Faculty Education Committee, the change should be regarded as a minor one.  The revised module outline still needs to be submitted by the department via the module outlines system but the minor change will not require the approval of the Chair of the relevant Faculty Education Committee.

Changes which do not require FEC approval

9. Departments may make changes to other aspects of a module outline (e.g. formative assessment) without requiring approval from the chair of the appropriate Faculty Education Committee.  The revised module outline still needs to be submitted by the department via the module outlines system but the minor change will not require the approval of the Chair of the relevant Faculty Education Committee.

Regulations

10. Where a change affects the programme regulations in the Faculty Handbook or Calendar, the requisite amendment should also be submitted (word processed; copies of the original regulations are available from the relevant faculty administrator in the Academic Support Office.

11. The responsibility for amending programme regulations is a shared one between the proposing department and the Academic Support Office. The proposing department is responsible for drafting and submitting proposed changes to programme regulations; the Academic Support Office will, on request, provide advice to departments on drafting proposed amendments to programme regulations.

12. New module codes cannot be included at this stage. These will be allocated by Student Planning and Assessment after the changes have been approved.

13. Departments are advised to seek at an early opportunity the advice of the Secretary to the relevant Faculty Education Committee in the Academic Support Office.